Channel tuning redirect

A system for television channel tuning, the system comprising:

• a communication interface configured to receive television signals from a plurality of transponders of a plurality of satellites;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive an indication of a first television channel for tuning, wherein the first television channel is associated with a first transponder;
• determine the first television channel is not available;
• identify, using a lookup table stored by the memory, a second television channel associated with a second transponder that is currently carrying the same content as the first television channel and is available for tuning, wherein:
• the lookup table is periodically updated to indicate matching content on a plurality of television channels broadcast to the receiving equipment via different transponders;
• and
• the lookup table indicates the first television channel and the second television channel have matching content;
• tune to the second television channel;
• and
• identify a plurality of unavailable television channels due to the plurality of unavailable television channels also being associated with the first transponder;
• and
• output an electronic programming guide that indicates the plurality of unavailable television channels and the first television channel are unavailable.

A computer program product residing on a non-transitory processor-readable medium for television channel tuning, the computer program product comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause a processor to:

• receive an indication of a first television channel for tuning, wherein the first television channel is associated with a first transponder;
• determine the first television channel is not available;
• perform a lookup in a locally-stored service information database of the first television channel, wherein:
• the locally-stored service information database is periodically updated to indicate matching content on a plurality of television channels;
• the locally-stored service information database indicates a satellite and a transponder for the plurality of television channels;
• each television channel of the plurality of television channels in the locally-stored service information database is assigned a content identifier that identifies a different transponder that carries the same content at a same time on another television channel;
• and
• the service information database is maintained separate from an electronic programming guide;
• determine the content identifier linked with the first television channel;
• determine a second television channel linked with the same content identifier as the first television channel wherein
• the second television channel is associated with a second transponder;
• and
• tune to the second television channel;
• identify a plurality of unavailable television channels due to the plurality of unavailable television channels also being associated with the first transponder;
• and
• outputting, by the receiving equipment, an electronic programming guide that indicates the plurality of unavailable television channels and the first television channel are unavailable.